On 1 and 2 December 2015, the meeting of Foreign Ministers of NATO took place in Brussels, attended by Luxembourg Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Jean Asselborn.
The ministerial meeting, chaired by NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, was primarily designed to instigate political debates to address the challenges currently faced by the Alliance. Topics of discussion included the preparatory work for the upcoming NATO summit, to be held in Warsaw in July 2016.
The meeting began with a working session with partners of the 'Resolute Support' mission in Afghanistan to examine the support NATO is capable of bringing to Agfghan security and defence forces. Minister Asselborn spoke of the importance of the international community supporting the Afghan people, with a view to creating a stable and lasting partnership.
In the presence of the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Vice President of the European Commission, Federica Mogherini, the following meeting allowed thereafter to address emerging challenges including in the Southern Alliance. During the work session, Ministers present took stock of the situation in Syria and exchanged views on NATO's role in the fight against ISIS.
A working dinner allowed the Ministers to discuss relations with Russia and the 'open door' policy on the enlargement of NATO. In the context of the enlargement, NATO ministers also officially invited Montenegro to join the Alliance.
A further meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Commission was held in the presence of Foreign Minister of the Ukraine Pavlo Klimkin, as a means of assessing the situation on the ground in eastern Ukraine, as well as discussing the means available to NATO in supporting the implementation of the Minsk agreements.
The Grand Duchy, as part of the Benelux region, has shown support to Ukraine in recent months and condemned the annexation of Crimea.
Photo by MAEE (L-R: Luxembourg Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Jean Asselborn; US Secretary of State, John Kerry)
